Asset manager Robeco has launched two emerging market debt strategies—Emerging Market Bonds and Emerging Market Bonds Local Currency—aiming to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns and core allocation to sovereign emerging markets debt.
These strategies employ a structured top-down and bottom-up approach, actively navigating macroeconomic, political, and sustainability risks. According to the asset manager, a proprietary framework, developed over the years, integrates “sovereign credit-worthiness analysis, relative value assessments, and sustainability considerations”.
The “high conviction” strategies will be actively managed by Robeco’s newly established emerging markets debt team, recruited last year. With an average of over 15 years’ experience, the team will leverage Robeco’s fixed income expertise, working closely with its Quant and Sustainable Investing teams to identify opportunities across a broad emerging market universe.
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By focusing on the most attractive opportunities with high return potential, the strategies take a high-conviction approach, balancing market insights with risk management.
Diliana Deltcheva, head of emerging market debt, Robeco: “We aim to deliver superior investment returns by deploying comprehensive analysis of all relevant information impacting emerging market debt investments. We’re not simply mirroring the benchmark: we’re leveraging our experience and frameworks to take selective, high-conviction positions when appropriate. The two strategies aim to offer higher rewards but will also tolerate higher risk due to this disciplined investment approach. While we may not yet have an established track record at Robeco, we have extensive experience in successfully managing emerging market debt funds through different market cycles. At the end of the day, if you deploy a complete investment framework you can extract value and grow assets within an inefficient asset class like emerging market debt.”
Erik van Leeuwen, head of fixed income, Robeco: “Emerging market debt is a dynamic and evolving asset class and we’re excited about its future at Robeco. We understand how challenging it can be to stand out, but with a high-conviction management approach and a robust investment framework, this sets us apart to approach emerging markets from all angles. Above all, we strive to deliver these results with consistency for our clients.”
